Three long-time aircraft-spotters from the Netherlands show you a selection of pictures out of their personal collections. Especially featured is the memorable Republic (R) F-84F Thunderstreak / Thunderflash fighter bomber and recce aircraft.

Airshows & Open Days

A visit to an airshow is an excellent opportunity for the spectator to see many aeroplanes together at the same time. The first air displays that we attended took place during the Nineteen Sixties (!) and we still are regular visitors. Throughout the years we have been present during more than 50 air-events and open days inside and outside the Netherlands and here you will find a selective , pictorial overview.

On June 23rd , 1979 Florennes Air Base in Belgium opened its gates to the public. As usual the annually organized Air Meeting was impressive with many aircraft on the scene . The Danish Super Sabre on static and the spectacular performance during the air show of a French Navy Crusader and a Portuguese Air Force T-38 Talon are only a few of the highlights to be mentioned.

On July 23rd , 1983 Scramble Tours organized a one day return trip to what is known as the biggest Air Show event in Europe : the International Air Tattoo at RAF Greenham Common , U.K.

Hans joined the travel-group and took to the air in NLM City Hopper’s Fokker F-28 Fellowship PH-CHN for a flight from Amsterdam AP (Schiphol) to Southampton , U.K. and onwards by touring car to destination.

On Saturday 23 August 2014 the German Air Force/Tactical Air Force Wing 73 “Steinhoff” opened its gates. The event marked the 55th anniversary of Taktishes LuftwaffenGeschwader 73 (formerly known as JG73) and 10 years of flight operations of the Luftwaffe with the Eurofighter.

The 2014 Open Days of the Royal Netherlands Air Force took place at Gilze Rijen AB both on June 20th and 21st and Hans was present on Saturday the 21st , working his way through the crowd and taking the pictures shown in this gallery.